08 July,2009 08:35 AM IST | | PA Sport
A day after unveiling Cristiano Ronaldo as a Real Madrid player at the Bernabeu, the Spanish giants are now keen that the transfer of Liverpool's Xabi Alonso is sorted out in the next fortnight.
The Spanish giants, who have yet to make an official bid for Alonso, have set a time limit on their interest, according to sources.
Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez, having tied one midfielder, Yossi Benayoun, to a new two-year contract extension, will now need to decide Alonso's future before he returns to pre-season training on July 19. Alonso has been given an extra fortnight's holiday along with fellow Spain teammates Fernando Torres, Jose Reina, Alvaro Arbeloa and Albert Riera who were playing in the Confederations Cup.
Real Madrid insiders believe that the club's new coach Manuel Pellegrini will want to move on to other holding midfield targets if a deal for Alonso cannot be tied up within two weeks.
